Marvin Gaye's children sue Robin Thicke and record company over 'Blurred Lines'

[marv2]

http://music.msn.com/music/article.a...&ocid=ansent11

Marvin Gaye's children sue Robin Thicke and record company over 'Blurred Lines'

Oct. 30, 2013, 5:55 PM EST

By ANTHONY McCARTNEY, AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES [[AP) — Two of Marvin Gaye's children sued Robin Thicke and his collaborators on the hit song "Blurred Lines" on Wednesday, accusing them of copyright infringement and alleging music company EMI failed to protect their father's legacy.

Nona Marvisa Gaye and Frankie Christian Gaye's suit is the latest salvo in a dispute over Thicke's hit and whether it copies elements of Gaye's song "Got to Give It Up."

Their lawsuit seeks to block Thicke and collaborators Pharrell and T.I. from using elements of their father's music in "Blurred Lines" or other songs.

Bing: Universities ban 'Blurred Lines'

Thicke has denied copying Gaye's song for "Blurred Lines," which has the longest streak this year atop the Billboard Hot 100 chart and has sold more than 6 million tracks so far. The suit also accused Thicke of improperly using Gaye's song "After the Dance" in his song "Love After War."

Much of the lawsuit focuses on claims that EMI should have pursued a copyright infringement claim. It also alleges the company's executives used intimidation to try to stop the Gaye family from pursuing a lawsuit.

The suit claims EMI, which is owned by Sony/ATV Music Publishing, has allowed a conflict of interest between the family's rights and the profits it is earning from "Blurred Lines" sales.

"This conflict has resulted in EMI's intentional decision to align themselves with the [['Blurred Lines') writers, without regard to the harm inflicted upon the rights and interests of the Gaye Family, and the legacy of Marvin Gaye," the lawsuit states.

Sony-ATV said it takes "very seriously" its role of protecting its songwriters' works from infringement.

"While we have not yet seen the claims by the Gaye family against EMI, we have repeatedly advised the Gaye family's attorney that the two songs in question have been evaluated by a leading musicologist who concluded that 'Blurred Lines' does not infringe 'Got To Give It Up,'" the company said in a statement.

Sony-ATV also said that while it treasures Marvin Gaye's works and the company's relationship with his family, "we regret that they have been ill-advised in this matter."

Thicke and his collaborators filed a case in August asking a federal judge to rule that the singers did not copy "Got to Give It Up" for their hit.

Howard King, who represents the singers, said the Gayes' countersuit was not unexpected, but he said their decision to sue EMI demonstrates the family lacks the appropriate authority to pursue the case against his clients.

He rejected the notion that EMI turned a blind eye to improper copying of Gaye's music. "EMI is in the business of collecting money for infringements," King said.

The company likely consulted a musicologist who found nothing improper, the attorney said. King said his firm consulted three music experts who determined the notes in the two songs were different.

Gaye's son Marvin Gaye III also might pursue legal action over the song, but he is not included in the federal court suit filed Wednesday.

[soulster]

Weren't the kids warned about attempting to sue?

[jillfoster]

Well, we heard they were "threatening" to sue, and now it's happened. It's too bad that Marvin's kids aren't savvy enough to know that you will never win in court, when a qualified musicolgist has determined that the song does not infringe. "Blurred Lines" doesn't infringe any more than "Lover's Concerto" infringes on "Stop! In the Name Of Love". I can BET there is some smarmy attorneys behind this bilking Marvin's ignorant children out of a big chunk of change. If these attorney's are so confident, I say demand they take the case on CONTINGENCY.

[daddyacey]

I agree about the lawyers. Because all B.L. does is sound like G.T.G.I.U. , enough so that you reference the original in your mind. It "sounds like" , an unique ,MARVIN GAYE track , but not even close in composition enough to the original to be even considered a sample IMO. They should let it go ,cause the fact is you hear Marvin's "touch" in that shit. At this point you could never collect on Marvins influence on any recordings of any simular genre artist.

[luke]

Dont agree. I immediately thought Of GTGIU. I never even assoicated Please Mr Postman and with Mashed Potato Time and Motown won that. I dont understand the harshness towards Gaye's family. A mujsicologist can be wrong. Every copyright battle has experts on both sides. Many in the media and other listenesrs felt the same-regardless of Gaye's family.

[Cincinnati_Kid]

BL sounds remarkably like GTGIU. I did a double take when I first heard it.